Hi
Hope no-one minds my venting. Took my lovely dog on a nice walk earlier and had it totally ruined by the actions of another dog owner. I'll try and expain as neutrally as possible but bearing in mind I'm nearly 8 months pregnant, I might not manage it! It also is a bit long!
We're walking down this private lane which has signs saying 'dogs must be on lead' so naturally, my boy is on his lead (near farmland and lovely tempting sheep for my collie). So we go down this ginnel to take us onto a nice part of our walk - which brings us out on a lake bank. My dog stops at the bottom (still on lead) and lies down, so I know there is another dog there, which is fine, mine's a friendly fella who'll bump noses with any dog. Next thing you know this massive lab/retriever type dog is racing towards us growling, teeth bared, snarling, etc and some daft woman strolling behind him, feebly calling him to come back. He went for my boy and I was trying very hard to get us away and shield him as no-one is getting near by boy without getting past me first. Unfortunately (or fortunately) he is a protective dog, especially now I am pregnant, and he started growling back and baring his teeth. He never starts a fight, but if another dog goes for him, he will have a go back, but usually 1 word from me and he'll back off. Eventually (ok probably only a matter of seconds but it felt like a lifetime) this woman plods up to her dog and grabs him and puts him back on the lead and starts saying 'he doesn't like dogs on leads, sorry'.
Erm WTF - her dog doesn't like dogs on leads and goes for them so she lets him off the lead in a busy tourist destination on a sunday (prime dog walking time). Oh I do apologise for keeping my dog on a lead, clearly my fault.
Anyhow I just ignored her and walked off (ok a speed waddle) as fast as my pregnant legs could carry me and warned a jogger to watch out. Naturally my boy has the worst timing ever and a few mins later decides to stop and do the 'poo shuffle' (i.e. finding the perfect spot for his poop). So as I am picking it up, which is no mean feat who should walk past but the woman and the dog and again and again her dog goes for mine although it's on a lead this time, she starts saying how hers doesn't like dogs on leads. I just looked at her and said 'I'm not interested in making you feel better and I refuse to apologise for keeping my dog on a lead' and then refused to engage with her any further. I was very close to losing it and I didn't want to risk the baby's health but getting madder than I already was.
My boy was fine but I took him to a field which is usually deserted and let him have a good run about (yes, off lead but only because it was empty) and then on our way back he managed to say hello to a couple of his 'mates' which made him wag his tail again.
I'm just so thankful that nothing worse happened because I honestly thought I was going to get savaged by this dog trying to stop it getting to mine. Must have been my mum instict kicking in. I'm just fuming at her attitude and a bit sore as I was twisting round a lot which has just stretched a few bump ligaments I think.
I do not blame the dog - if it has issues, fair enough but why oh why let your dog loose in a place which is teeming with other dogs? Why on earth is it my problem/fault that her dog doesn't like dogs on leads!! Keep him on the lead until you are 100% sure no-one else is about.
Anyhow, sorry it turned into an epic, thank you for listening!
Jas
x
